How long will Hamilton and Rosberg remain friends?

LeytonHouse · Post by **LeytonHouse** » 07 Apr 2014, 10:50

I’ve been thinking about this since pre-season testing. It seems Mercedes are going to be untouchable for at least the first half of 2014. At this stage it’s looking pretty likely one of their drivers is going to be WDC. They’re very evenly matched, equally supported and super competitive…

So, can they remain friends or will their relationship erupt into a bitter in-house rivalry, ala Senna/Prost, Mansell/Piquet, Hamilton/Alonso?

Personally I hope they can remain friendly and fair but with the WDC at stake, who knows if this is possible?

Just wondering what you guys all think?

solarcold · Post by **solarcold** » 07 Apr 2014, 11:08

I'm an optimist. I really believe there are people who can manage remaining friends even in such conditions.
I don't know if Nico and Lewis are the likes of such people, but I seriously hope so. Those two are a great pair.

Rusujuur · Post by **Rusujuur** » 07 Apr 2014, 11:37

Not for long, because they are too evenly matched. The car is the best so it is up to the driver to get the title and I think F1 drivers have a certain "winning is everything" mindset, so they will clash sooner or later.

CoopsII · Post by **CoopsII** » 07 Apr 2014, 11:40

From the outside Rosberg appears to be the more balanced and straightforward of the two so if any upset were to occur in the future Id expect Hamilton to be the cause. Innit.

That said, Id be both suprised and dissappointed if it happened. It'd be nice to see a championship battle free of the usual petulent nonsense of accusations, recriminations and bitterness.

Jocke1 · Post by **Jocke1** » 07 Apr 2014, 11:41

Mercedes hand out warning to Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg ahead of Bahrain Grand Prix
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formula-1 ... is-3376393

Hamilton appeared to chuck fuel on the fire that threatens to rage between them when he denied they were close.
“He is not in my best five friends in the world and I am not in his. We are team-mates,” Hamilton said.

Then we have this wedding rumor on top.
I'm personally hoping for a year-long bitter rivalry, a blood feud, feverish match-up's at every Grand Prix, continuous hostility in the media
and press conferences, hatred and bitterness in the garage and paddock, brake lines being cut on each others rental cars, twitter trash-talk,
shaving cream being filled in each others gloves, huge fake pizza delivery orders to one another (I'm talking like seventy pizzas).

Stuff like that.

watka · Post by **watka** » 07 Apr 2014, 12:27

So long as the team keep sharing data between each side of the garage, I don't see any fall out happening because of the team. What could happen however is an on-track altercation that might sour their relationship, especially considering how much entitlement drivers have these days and how quick they are to complain to the stewards.

LeytonHouse · Post by **LeytonHouse** » 07 Apr 2014, 12:47

I agree that an on-track collision would be the most likely cause of any breakdown in relationship. Eg. Vettel / Webber crash in Turkey 2010 sparked the 3 year cold war at Red Bull (although admittedly those two were never “friends” to begin with).

The media will stir the pot at any opportunity so Mercedes will do well to manage the situation. If Rosberg and Hamilton are still neck and neck with quarter of the season to go, things could get very strained.

It’s going to be interesting…

Jocke1 · Post by **Jocke1** » 07 Apr 2014, 12:54

Monaco will be very interesting. They have both won there in the past,
they now have the best car at their disposal, no team orders and a very narrow
circuit. I predict mayhem out of the tunnel on lap 78.

pablo_h · Post by **pablo_h** » 07 Apr 2014, 16:48

Yes, "the media" will stir the pot, but here you are with this thread lol.
But lets blame the media, not people wanting this type of stuff and speculating about it.

Dj_bereta · Post by **Dj_bereta** » 07 Apr 2014, 17:10

They almost touched wheels in the last GP. The crash is going to be inevitable.

Also, I think Vettel and Ricciardo will crash too.

F1000X · Post by **F1000X** » 07 Apr 2014, 17:13

The team needs to do their part to make both drivers feel they are on equal terms. As long as they don't wreck each other, I think they can maintain an amicable relationship. I would hope they get along like Berger and Senna did. Even when they had it out on track, they could still share a laugh (often at the others expense) off track.

Post by **DemocalypseNow** » 07 Apr 2014, 17:52

F1000X wrote:The team needs to do their part to make both drivers feel they are on equal terms. As long as they don't wreck each other, I think they can maintain an amicable relationship. I would hope they get along like Berger and Senna did. Even when they had it out on track, they could still share a laugh (often at the others expense) off track.

I would mostly put this down to Berger's unique character. Somehow he didn't let rivalry ever get to him, and always had a 'humorous' (for lack of a better word) personality that helped with this. This is something few drivers seem to have.

I'm reasonably certain they'll end the season hating each other. I can't imagine how it's possible for two drivers who are in the same team and are all alone fighting for the WDC, isolated from the rest of the field, to remain on good terms. When your enemy number one is essentially at the next cubicle if you will, it's hard to avoid thinking about them and how you'll get one up on them next time...

Klon · Post by **Klon** » 07 Apr 2014, 19:01

Biscione wrote:
F1000X wrote:The team needs to do their part to make both drivers feel they are on equal terms. As long as they don't wreck each other, I think they can maintain an amicable relationship. I would hope they get along like Berger and Senna did. Even when they had it out on track, they could still share a laugh (often at the others expense) off track.

I would mostly put this down to Berger's unique character. Somehow he didn't let rivalry ever get to him, and always had a 'humorous' (for lack of a better word) personality that helped with this. This is something few drivers seem to have.

Me, being the cynic that I am, would also think that Berger just not being a threat to Senna helped things massively on Senna's side of things.

good_Ralf · Post by **good_Ralf** » 07 Apr 2014, 19:13

Klon wrote:Me, being the cynic that I am, would also think that Berger just not being a threat to Senna helped things massively on Senna's side of things.

Agreed. Sometimes you get on with your teammate, because you're way better. No offense on Berger's part, but in the 3 years that Senna and Berger were together at McLaren, Ayrton won 16 races, Gerhard 3 and one of those was donated.

Post by **mario** » 07 Apr 2014, 20:58

good_Ralf wrote:
Klon wrote:Me, being the cynic that I am, would also think that Berger just not being a threat to Senna helped things massively on Senna's side of things.

Agreed. Sometimes you get on with your teammate, because you're way better. No offense on Berger's part, but in the 3 years that Senna and Berger were together at McLaren, Ayrton won 16 races, Gerhard 3 and one of those was donated.

I do believe that Berger actually felt somewhat insulted by the way in which Senna handed him that win - I think that I read somewhere that Berger felt that Senna was implying to him that he would only be able to win if Senna allowed him to.

pablo_h wrote:Yes, "the media" will stir the pot, but here you are with this thread lol.
But lets blame the media, not people wanting this type of stuff and speculating about it.

I guess that there is inevitably some curiosity as to how two competitive individuals, when placed in direct confrontation with each other, will behave towards each other when every move they make will be widely reported and both sides seem to be reasonably evenly matched. Added to that, there is the difference in the way that both drivers have been treated - Mercedes has been very even handed in the treatment of their drivers in contrast to other teams and are letting their drivers off the leash, which is a slightly unusual situation in F1 and will be making many wonder how they keep their drivers in check.

WeirdKerr · Post by **WeirdKerr** » 07 Apr 2014, 21:45

think mid july.... maybe before end of may..... or sometime in june....

More_Blue_Flags · Post by **More_Blue_Flags** » 07 Apr 2014, 22:12

good_Ralf wrote:
Klon wrote:Me, being the cynic that I am, would also think that Berger just not being a threat to Senna helped things massively on Senna's side of things.

Agreed. Sometimes you get on with your teammate, because you're way better. No offense on Berger's part, but in the 3 years that Senna and Berger were together at McLaren, Ayrton won 16 races, Gerhard 3 and one of those was donated.

I am actually having trouble thinking of a pairing of drivers who were both competitive for the title without a clear number 1 - number 2 relationship imposed by the team that managed to retain a friendly (or at least professional) relationship. The most recent example I can think of is perhaps Fittipaldi and Petersen at Lotus in 1973. I would like to see Rosberg (who I consider very grounded and level headed) and Hamilton (perhaps still a bit immature) retain a friendly relationship but history does seem against them.

LeytonHouse · Post by **LeytonHouse** » 07 Apr 2014, 22:31

pablo_h wrote:Yes, "the media" will stir the pot, but here you are with this thread lol.
But lets blame the media, not people wanting this type of stuff and speculating about it.

Woah, little hostile there pablo. I'm new here, I get it, but I wasnt trying to shoot an angle, I was just thinking out loud...

And FYI, there's a big difference between a fan starting a simple discussion on an F1 forum and e.g. a reporter directly asking the drivers questions designed to inflame straight after they've jumped out of the cars and have incomplete information.

But yeah, lets not speculate or discuss or predict or even have an opinion on the matter, absolutely no place for that on a forum. :roll:

eytl · Post by **eytl** » 07 Apr 2014, 22:42

It's OK, I for one think this is a valid topic for discussion because I think this - and several other team-mate rivalries that have all started to play out dramatically over the course of Malaysia and Bahrain - will become one of the key subplots of the season. I think there is a difference between sensationalist media who try to fan the flames by provoking and then misinterpreting a soundbite in order to make a headline, and having a reasoned discussion on this forum (which, for the large part, discussions tend to be!).

The team-mate battle which I think will really explode this year is Bianchi v Mr Talent, especially when Luca di Montezemolo knocks on Max's door later this year in a bid to replace one or both of his jaded drivers. :lol:

Play on.

LionZoo · Post by **LionZoo** » 08 Apr 2014, 00:04

eytl wrote:The team-mate battle which I think will really explode this year is Bianchi v Mr Talent, especially when Luca di Montezemolo knocks on Max's door later this year in a bid to replace one or both of his jaded drivers.

Max is replacing BOTH drivers? He's going to drive both cars? Is there anything he cannot do?

CoopsII · Post by **CoopsII** » 08 Apr 2014, 06:50

pablo_h wrote:Yes, "the media" will stir the pot, but here you are with this thread lol.
But lets blame the media, not people wanting this type of stuff and speculating about it.

I doubt either driver reads these forums and so are unlikely to be affected by its content.

Kobacrashi · Post by **Kobacrashi** » 08 Apr 2014, 07:21

Until sometime June 29th(research) when LH invites NR to Nicole shirt slingers birthday party.

When nico turns up Nicole isn't there and asks lewis where she is.
"She's definitely coming man you'll see". At this point nico finds a small door open and looks in too find a shrine to her and Ron dennis" lewis is she actually coming this is a bit weird?". At this point lewis pulls out a doll made of her hair for comfort and starts crying on the floor. "She does love me!".

"Err lewis mate this is a bit weird I am going".
"No your weird look at one of your ears its all strange!"
"Don't talk about that ahhhhhh!"
A slap fight then ensues with both drivers rolling around only for Ross Brawn to appear, "nico we need you to move over and let lewis win".
" what you said no team to orders! That's it! I hate you".

And with that they are no longer friends.

Predicted here first.

Jocke1 · Post by **Jocke1** » 08 Apr 2014, 10:45

Hamilton claims 'document' helped Rosberg catch up

Apr.8 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton claims teammate Nico Rosberg improved between the Malaysian and Bahrain Grand Prix by studying his data.

The 2008 world champion, still 11 points behind championship leader Rosberg despite winning two of the three Grands Prix in 2014, revealed that when the German arrived in Bahrain, he was handed a "big document".
A week earlier in Malaysia, Rosberg had been defeated by Hamilton by no less than 17 seconds, but in Bahrain the Mercedes duo diced wheel-to-wheel for the race win.
"Someone in the team did a huge study on my pace in Malaysia," Hamilton told British newspapers, revealing that the document received by Rosberg detailed "all the places I was quick".
"So I will do the same for the next round in China and hope I can capitalise," he added.

"I am going to study hard for the next two weeks and give it a lot of thought and digest a lot."
Hamilton finished just one second ahead of Rosberg in Bahrain, where the pair fought hard for victory despite team boss Paddy Lowe's radio call that they should "bring both cars home".
"It's great they allowed us to fight and didn't get in the way," said Hamilton.
But he warned that "if every single race is like that from now on, I can't always guarantee we'll both come out happy."

http://www.motorsport.com/#!/f1/news/ha ... -catch-up/

F1000X · Post by **F1000X** » 08 Apr 2014, 15:39

Well of course you won't. One of you is going to lose. Get the bathplug over it. Do your homework and win.

Post by **mario** » 08 Apr 2014, 17:31

Jocke1 wrote:Hamilton claims 'document' helped Rosberg catch up
Apr.8 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton claims teammate Nico Rosberg improved between the Malaysian and Bahrain Grand Prix by studying his data.

The 2008 world champion, still 11 points behind championship leader Rosberg despite winning two of the three Grands Prix in 2014, revealed that when the German arrived in Bahrain, he was handed a "big document".
A week earlier in Malaysia, Rosberg had been defeated by Hamilton by no less than 17 seconds, but in Bahrain the Mercedes duo diced wheel-to-wheel for the race win.
"Someone in the team did a huge study on my pace in Malaysia," Hamilton told British newspapers, revealing that the document received by Rosberg detailed "all the places I was quick".
"So I will do the same for the next round in China and hope I can capitalise," he added.

"I am going to study hard for the next two weeks and give it a lot of thought and digest a lot."
Hamilton finished just one second ahead of Rosberg in Bahrain, where the pair fought hard for victory despite team boss Paddy Lowe's radio call that they should "bring both cars home".
"It's great they allowed us to fight and didn't get in the way," said Hamilton.
But he warned that "if every single race is like that from now on, I can't always guarantee we'll both come out happy."

http://www.motorsport.com/#!/f1/news/ha ... -catch-up/

That isn't exactly an earth shattering revelation though - most teams will automatically share data between the drivers in order to maximise their performances, so it sounds more or less like business as normal at Mercedes. Indeed, during the race it was notable that each half of the pit wall at Mercedes was shadowing what the other was doing and then telling their driver how to counteract that (for example, Rosberg was told to switch to a different engine map at one point, and immediately Hamilton's engineers told him to switch to the same engine mode to counteract that).

As for the final comment by Hamilton, that sounds more like a pre-emptive comment by him towards the senior management at Mercedes to warn them that they might end up in a situation where the two drivers lock wheels and end up costing the team a win.

Benetton · Post by **Benetton** » 08 Apr 2014, 19:59

If I were in either of their shoes (I wish!) I would not share my best information. This is the point when gloves come off inside the team. The winner of the intra-team battle will be WDC.

UncreativeUsername37 · Post by **UncreativeUsername37** » 08 Apr 2014, 20:44

Benetton wrote:If I were in either of their shoes (I wish!) I would not share my best information. This is the point when gloves come off inside the team. The winner of the intra-team battle will be WDC.

Are you sure about that?

Jocke1 · Post by **Jocke1** » 08 Apr 2014, 21:09

UgncreativeUsergname wrote:
Benetton wrote:If I were in either of their shoes (I wish!) I would not share my best information. This is the point when gloves come off inside the team. The winner of the intra-team battle will be WDC.

Are you sure about that?

http://youtu.be/Zjz16xjeBAA?t=1m51s

watka · Post by **watka** » 08 Apr 2014, 22:33

UgncreativeUsergname wrote:
Benetton wrote:If I were in either of their shoes (I wish!) I would not share my best information. This is the point when gloves come off inside the team. The winner of the intra-team battle will be WDC.

Are you sure about that?

http://youtu.be/Zjz16xjeBAA?t=1m51s

Yep, because that really helped Alonso and Hamilton in 2007 didn't it?

Post by **mario** » 09 Apr 2014, 20:44

Benetton wrote:If I were in either of their shoes (I wish!) I would not share my best information. This is the point when gloves come off inside the team. The winner of the intra-team battle will be WDC.

It depends whether or not the drivers necessarily have a choice in the matter - it is possible that their engineers would pass over the data anyway.

Wallio · Post by **Wallio** » 10 Apr 2014, 18:33

watka wrote:
UgncreativeUsergname wrote:
Benetton wrote:If I were in either of their shoes (I wish!) I would not share my best information. This is the point when gloves come off inside the team. The winner of the intra-team battle will be WDC.

Are you sure about that?

http://youtu.be/Zjz16xjeBAA?t=1m51s

Yep, because that really helped Alonso and Hamilton in 2007 didn't it?

Despite Ronspeak doing everything he could to help Hammy. Really to win, the cars have to be pretty much equal, data and all.

SgtPepper · Post by **SgtPepper** » 13 Apr 2014, 20:06

I've been doing some pondering over this since Bahrain and here's my theory;

Unless there are any particular mitigating factors (i.e a crash, Wolff leaning towards a specific driver for some reason, a strategy call or a driver having a string of unreliability) the relationship will not break down completely, though become strained at certain periods. This hinges on the very simple presumption that Rosberg is the inferior driver, but slightly more intelligent, and vastly more mature. Look at Rosberg's body language on the podium, sheer anger and frustration, but at himself. I feel that Hamilton will most likely win the championship, but that Rosberg will keep him honest, and be graceful in defeat.

Maybe Rosberg will best Hamilton, and he'll handle it admirably, I may be completely wrong, but that's just my perception.

Sublime_FA11C · Post by **Sublime_FA11C** » 14 Apr 2014, 04:40

Anger and frustration at himself, and a very strong sense of not letting Hamilton get the better of him next time. Rather than get grumpy, hostile or invent excuses (mysterious down-shift problems Seb?).

And he had reason to get furios as well. Beaten off the line, he failed again on laps 18 and 19 when the strategic first pitstop would be open to the lead Merc. Yet again when the SC destroyed Hamilton's lead but Nico could not get past. Lewis beat him fair and square despite a disadvantage and that must have hurt Roseberg real bad. In retrospect, his reaction on the podium/during the press conference was first class, and his desire to better Hamilton is extremly healthy.

Mercedes were determined to handle their two stars fairly. I don't expect the team to change their approach any time soon. What i see as the only potential threat to their friendship (aside all the relentless questions about them maintaining their friendship), is the scenario in which one driver feels cheated or unfairly treated. Roseberg was quite furious at Hamilton for the two pushes off road during the Bahrain race, but other than briefly bitching about it over the radio, he made no attempt to cry foul (although he admitted to swearing very badly at Lewis as he greeted/tckled him post race). My best guess is that Nico realised that such dubious defending is something he would himself try, and that there's no point in questioning a rival's aggression when the overtakes are made for the race AND championship lead.

All in all, even though he hasn't defeated Lewis convincingly this season, Nico did his chances nor his character no harm with his performance in Bahrain. But there's allways a chance that sparks fly and one driver feels robbed. Though after a season together at Mercedes, and with their history, they both know the score and are relishing the chance to beat one another for the title, with foul-play probably not even seeming like a possibility.

Mouthy316 · Post by **Mouthy316** » 14 Apr 2014, 12:08

An opinion that I would be interested to hear is not how similar the Hamilton-Rosberg partnership is to the Senna-Prost partnership (because frankly I'm sick to death of the media already making that comparison), but how do you think the relationship would be if there was an incident LIKE Senna-Prost? i.e. Final race, both in contention for the WDC with say Hamilton leading by 1 point. Lights go out and first corner Hamiton punts Rosberg off and they both retire but Hamilton becomes WDC. Now THAT would be interesting!

Personally, if it happened that way around I would expect Rosberg to be a bit miffed initially but then just get his head down over the winter and make sure he beats Hamilton the next season with points to spare. If it was the other way around I think Lewis would moan about it continually and we could definately see sparks fly!

James1978 · Post by **James1978** » 14 Apr 2014, 20:49

I think is what often seems forgotten about Senna/Prost is that they seemed to get along well for most of 1988 - it was only Portugal where the relationship started to deteriorate.

I reckon if another team starts to catch Mercedes could help the relationship, they might feel they have to pool together to see of whichever team it is that catches them (I think Red Bull is still the most likely in that sense).

AndreaModa · Post by **AndreaModa** » 14 Apr 2014, 21:07

James1978 wrote:I think is what often seems forgotten about Senna/Prost is that they seemed to get along well for most of 1988 - it was only Portugal where the relationship started to deteriorate.

I think this is important to remember. I know the MP4/4 was an utterly dominant car anyway, but when you have two of the very best drivers the sport has ever seen working together and getting along, the result blew everyone else away.

Now I wouldn't put Rosberg on the same level as either Senna or Prost, and I think the jury is out at the present time on including Hamilton with either of them too, but they are obviously good drivers, and the W05 is a good car so if they can keep their relationship on good terms, I think the rest of the field ought to be rather worried.

VirtuaMcPolygon · Post by **VirtuaMcPolygon** » 14 Apr 2014, 22:01

I think it will be when they take each other off and start to blame each other.

This is when vettel and webbers working relationship went down hill rapidly.

Will be fun to see thou. I quite like a good team 'mate' hissy fit

dr-baker · Post by **dr-baker** » 15 Apr 2014, 11:21

VirtuaMcPolygon wrote:Will be fun to see thou.

Grammar mistake here. You meant to say "Will be fun to see thee." Thou is used as the subject in a sentence, thee is used as the object. Eg. "Thou art cool, ain't thee?"

Aerond · Post by **Aerond** » 15 Apr 2014, 11:57

I hope they don't remain friends for long :lol:

watka · Post by **watka** » 15 Apr 2014, 12:21

dr-baker wrote:
VirtuaMcPolygon wrote:Will be fun to see thou.

Grammar mistake here. You meant to say "Will be fun to see thee." Thou is used as the subject in a sentence, thee is used as the object. Eg. "Thou art cool, ain't thee?"

Lol, ye olde mucker.